John Wayne related news:
08/02/2003 Entry: "Stalin plotted to kill John Wayne"
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LONDON, July 31 — Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin was so outraged at the anti-communism of film star John Wayne that he plotted to have him murdered, according to a new biography of the American icon. “JOHN WAYNE — THE man behind the myth” by British writer and actor Michael Munn says there were several attempts in the late 1940s and early 1950s to kill the man known to audiences around the world as “Duke.”
In the first attempt, two Russian assassins posing as FBI agents tried to kill Wayne — born Marion Morrison on May 26, 1907 — in his office at Warner Brothers studios in Hollywood.
But the plot was uncovered and the would-be killers captured, the book says, citing several sources including director Orson Welles.
The book says the Soviet plots were cancelled after Stalin’s death in 1953, by his successor Nikita Krushchev, who was a fan of the larger-than-life star of more than 100 films.
“That was a decision of Stalin during his last five mad years. When Stalin died I rescinded that order,” the book quotes Krushchev as telling Wayne during a private meeting in 1958.
But it says American communist groups took up the cudgels against Wayne who was a supporter of the anti-communist witch-hunt led by Senator Joseph McCarthy, citing an attempt in Mexico on the set of the film “Hondo.”
Wayne survived these attempts and another by a sniper during a trip to visit American troops in Vietnam in 1966. He eventually died of cancer in 1979.
© 2003 Reuters Limited. |
Posted by: Kevin | 8/2/03
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Replies: 21 comments
thats crazy..
Posted by DUde @ 03/26/2004 02:59 PM EDT
I love John Wayne. He is just every woman's dream. Such a great actor...I just wish he could carry on forever.
Posted by Sally @ 03/12/2004 10:52 PM EDT
I LOVE John Wayne. Previously I just liked McLintock, The Quiet Man, and True Grit. Now I really admire JW as a actor. I really love him.
Posted by Sally @ 03/12/2004 10:40 PM EDT
Chester, it sounds like mommy & daddy didnt spank you enough...watch you mouth son
Posted by BigG @ 02/21/2004 04:20 PM EDT
My name is Alexandra and I am only 15. I've always said that I was born 50 years too late because all of my true heroes are from the 50's!!! =D John Wayne is no exception...I have always been fascinated by his films and my favorite one is "The Quiet Man" and "The Stagecoach". He was so-o-o-o big and had a big heart to mach.
Posted by Alexandra @ 02/05/2004 02:19 AM EDT
John Wayne loved his bottle and brash ways which is why people love him and hate him.
Posted by ej @ 01/28/2004 08:03 PM EDT
oops nevermind it was lefty,not tommy, that said fuckin indians, sorry
Posted by Chester @ 01/26/2004 11:44 AM EDT
Sonny- "How the hell does John Wayne die?"
Tommy- "Fuckin' Indians man."
sorry just felt like quoting some Brasco. john wayne was pretty cool and all but i think pacino could have handled the mexicans better. :)
P.s. just joking the duke rocks, and sorry if i mis-wrote their names
Posted by Chester Ryder @ 01/26/2004 11:42 AM EDT
I think that this site is great but i think you need more pictures
Posted by Melody Moline @ 01/22/2004 09:16 PM EDT
America needs more heros like John Wayne. People with True Grit on what America stands for. God Bless John Wayne!
Posted by Christina Chastian @ 01/06/2004 12:20 PM EDT
John Wayne was a most exceptional man and I can't believe that anybody would try and do such a thing. I am only 15 and admire his courage and strength, throughout life. He was absolutely gorgeous and I love all his films. xx
Posted by Kelly Daley @ 12/30/2003 11:57 AM EDT
John Wayne was a great actor and a model american. there"ll never be another.
Posted by chad d @ 12/16/2003 11:21 PM EDT
my dad has been a fan of JOHN WAYNE for the biggest part of his life,He has videos,plates,photos etc:-When John Wayne died on June 11th 1979,my dad 12 months after paid Tribute to him,by having a memorial peice placed in our local paper.
Posted by SANDRA BARKER @ 12/05/2003 04:48 PM EDT
I'm distantly related to John Wayne. he is awesome!
Posted by jermaninn @ 11/06/2003 01:01 PM EDT
That's why The Duke is larger than life. It would have been a huge mistake on anyone's part to attempt such a thing. Sometimes your better off letting this big dog alone.
Posted by Cowboy @ 10/24/2003 01:03 PM EDT
john wayne was a grate
Posted by matt baker @ 10/24/2003 12:37 PM EDT
john wayne is cool
Posted by Tim @ 10/22/2003 02:30 PM EDT
I have over 120 of his movies and keep searching for more. He is truly one of Americas most loved heros.
Posted by Jack Kapp @ 10/21/2003 10:42 PM EDT
the duke was a true icon,i've seen over 100 of his movies.
Posted by earle h. forsythe @ 10/12/2003 07:32 PM EDT
I have loved john wayne all my life with all his faults and everything. Now, i'm only 14- so you can guess that its a shocker to me to find this out right now. of course, i'm not biggy on reading the newspaper, but i just want to know WHY someone would even think about killing john wayne. I love john. he is the biggest HOTTIE that ever walked the planet, and I adore all his movies. My favorites are, 'Tall in the Saddle, 'the Undefeated', 'true grit', 'Rooster Cogburn', and 'The Quiet Man'
Posted by bonnie @ 09/05/2003 09:06 PM EDT
communists have never stopped. today's liberal are an offshoot of the communists
Posted by barry crowley @ 08/03/2003 12:49 PM EDT
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